The National tribune., 1887-10-27
NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON THURSDAY,

and himself for nearly 100 years, but they have
apparently made very little out of it. The
house could be put up again for less than $500,
and it is astonislingly bare of furniture, car
pets etc. There are no barns or other out
buildings of any consequence but the fences
are in good shape, and there were some fair
Berkshire pigs running around in the pasture.
i asked what land in that neighbOrhOod was
worth, and was told that il averaged about $40
an acre. This would seem to very cheap, if
anything at all can be made out of the ground,
for il is near market, and a thrifty Northern
farmer would soon find out something that the
soil is adapted to. Nearly the whole of the
plateau upon which tho main part of the fight
ing occurred is in pasture, with the fences that
played so important part in the fight still
standing where they did on the day of the bat
tie, and the woods back of the plateau into
which the rebels retreated after our fierce on
slaught. and rallied, retain about the same
limits they had then.
Mr.. Henry, who is a teacher by profession,
and followed that calling for 10 years, most of
the time in the Academy at Alexandria, is an
intelligent man, and has made a study of the
first battle. He charges each visitor 80 cents
for coming on the farm, and 80 cents more for
his services in explaining the battle and point
ing out the interesting localities. He took us
out to little circle OF stones in the pasture and
said:
There's where Gen. Bee fell. and there
(pOinting TO another circle of stones) is where
Gen. Barlow was killed. Right where you see
that fence Gen. jackson formed his brigade,
and there was where he gained his name of
'Stonewall,' which Gen. Bee gave him. Come
over here and will show you where Imboden
had his battery of artillery when he opened
the fight with Grifiin's and Ricketts's batteries
on the hill yOnder. They finally drove him
back into these woods, and they came across
the run and got 10 that point there where the
| Southern soldiers rallied and took them. The
| Northern soldiers took them back, but lost
them again. Capt. Ricketts, fell right there,
and was afterward carried back to n house. and
| then sent 10 Richmond. Col. Cameron, the
| brother of the Secretary of War, was killed
right there by that clump of bushes The nth
Brooklyn, think, did the best fighting of any
of the Northern regiments. They charged up
that cut there and got clear through the
Southern line, but it cost them dearly. | re-
member that that field over there was red with
their bodies after the BATTLE
"Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves did some good
| fighting. didn't they ," asked one of our party.
No. said the old man, scornfuly; they
went in very brisk, but they went out great
deal brisker. They didn't wait for more than
one volley before they went all to pieces"
"They were toughs," said another Of our
party, land toughs are worthless for soldiers.
i never saw one in my life that was worth his
| SalJ 10 ngnt.
"Your mother was killed in the house, was
she not, Mr.. Henry?' asked.
"Yes," Unanswered. "She was bedridden
at the time, and my brother and sister were
with her when the battle opened. They ear
ried her out of the house into that ravine there
but il seemed more dangerous there than it
| was in the house, SO they carried her back
| The house then became the center of the fight
| the batteries were fighting each other past it,
and a shell exploded inside and killed my
mother 1t was wonderful how my brother
aud sister escaped, for they were right by her.
You've heard much of the Black Horse
Cavalry" he continued, leading us over to
another part Of the field. well, they weren't
in the fight at all. They were over yonder
nearly two miles. The cavalry on this part of
the field were two companies commanded by
Capts Carter aud Hoge. Capt. Carter charged
the 18th Brooklyn right about here. His horse
was shot under him. and fell right there. The
skeleton lay there until year or two ago, and
one day l was walking PAST it, and acct
dentally kicked the skull, and out rolled the
bullet which had killed the horse. picked it
M, and shortly after Capt. Carter came over to
visit the field, and ] gave il TO him"
You have good many visitors, don't
your"
"Yes, a great many. Gen Sherman was here
few years ago. He has the quickest eye for
the lay of the land of any man that ever came
here. He seemed to take it in at glance. He
didn't ask me but one question. He got up on
that fence. and, pointing with his hand. said
Manassas Is right over there, isn't itr'"